Drop in Respiratory Illnesses Drive Decrease in Workplace Injury

Workplace injuries and illnesses declined by more than 8% last year, according to data released by the Bureau of Labor Statistics Friday.

The overall decline was the result of a more-than 70% decrease in respiratory illness cases—down to 100,200 cases for 2023—according to the agency’s estimates from the Survey of Occupational Injuries and Illnesses. There was a more-than 50% drop in illness cases reported in 2023 (200,100 cases), the lowest number since 2019, according to the Department of Labor.

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